“Benoit Badiashile and 3 other defenders to face this” – As Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to set this strict rule for Chelsea defenders
Enzo Maresca, the manager of Chelsea, had a “three-year project” with Serie B team Ascoli that ended abruptly and with dismay, lasting barely five months.
After a shocking resignation in November 2017, the former midfield player for Juventus and Sevilla gave an explanation, saying, “Things outside football have become uncontrollable, consequently there are no longer any conditions to continue.”
The team’s shocking 4-0 loss at Parma, which had put them at the bottom of the table, proved to be the breaking point for compulsive No. 2 Maresca.
Although Ascoli had originally intended to name the Italian manager, he had to share the dugout with Fulvio Fiorin because he had the necessary coaching license.
Yet although he was technically second in command, the club’s players were under no illusions exactly who was in charge.
Former Ascoli midfielder Gianluca Carpani reveals: “Enzo was a former player so he was well respected and everyone listened to him because he had a very good career.
“He really liked being in groups, so always organised lunches and dinners with both his fellow staff and players.
“He had a style that I really liked, he certainly needed more time to implement this idea and to bring results. Unfortunately the results didn’t arrive and it didn’t last too long.”
Those reflections should serve as a warning to those expecting instant success at Chelsea following Mauricio Pochettino’s controversial exit.
However, the standout line from Maresca’s Ascoli unveiling indicates he has always strived to work towards a long-term vision – precisely why he was considered the top pick at Stamford Bridge.
He said upon signing his first-ever coaching contract in central Italy seven years ago: “For the future we are thinking step by step; we want to be part of a three-year project but for the moment we are focused only on tomorrow.”
Crucially, Pep Guardiola’s former Manchester City assistant understands the importance of working within a clear structure and is dedicated to improving players on the training pitch as he displayed last season at Leicester, when the Marescalator accelerated at full tilt to win the Championship title.
Maresca’s struggles at Ascoli were evidently no skin off his back. In fact, they only ignited the fire and hunger within his belly to reach the very top. While much has changed since then, the 44-year-old’s principles, centred around dominating possession, manoeuvring the opposition into traps and penetrating space at speed, have largely remained the same.
Carpani continued: “He worked a lot on the positional changes of all players, especially the full-backs and attacking wingers in a 4-3-3 system.
“He also worked with the defensive line in a particular way, they always had to stop at the edge of the penalty area and were not allowed to enter the box during training so the team stayed high.
“What stood out was that he always gave you solutions that you could bring onto the pitch and you always knew exactly what to do.
“On a personal level, I learned a lot, especially some important movements he taught me as a midfielder which I still carry with me today.
“He tried many new things which always made me think he was a great coach, I always believed in Enzo because he was full of so many beautiful ideas. He also demonstrated that with Leicester where he achieved great results – I wish him the best.”